Chapter 53
Catherine and Percival locked eyes for quite a while, utterly focused on each other. Neither made any move to initiate conversation. To Catherine, this moment of mutual staring felt like a subtle tug-of-war, each sizing up the other's strength.
The bright moonlight vanished behind clouds once more, and priests appeared out of nowhere, surrounding Percival. Only then did his gaze shift away from her, and soon the spot where he'd stood was empty.
But Catherine remained rooted to her seat, unable to move. Peng! A spectacular fireworks display erupted, drawing gasps of admiration from all around. Yet she couldn't focus on the dazzling spectacle unfolding before her.
Percival...
Should she be shocked that he'd contracted with a Great Demon? Or that the Holy See was behind executing the contract? After pondering for a long time, she slowly shook her head.
"No, that's not what's important right now..."
A cat ribbon. Before leaving Beaton Blue, she had to rush out and buy a pretty one to tie around Yaong's neck. She had to. It would make him even cuter!
After watching the fireworks climax, Catherine hurried out of the commercial building. The peace of the world would be maintained by the leaders of nations and organizations—she had no business meddling. Someone else would step up as the hero.
The return voyage of the Lilith Ship to Christopher was a day shorter than the trip to Beaton Blue. The passengers, who had spent the outbound journey reveling and feasting, grew noticeably subdued throughout the cruise back. They were exhausted, no doubt, but the recent demon summoning incident had everyone on edge, treading carefully. The mood was one of collective hope that the trip would end safely.
"Her name is Magi Orleans. Ah, the family name might differ, so just Magi. A pretty lady with blonde hair and amber eyes. She's fairly tall, sensitive personality, skin with a slight rosy flush..."
"No, no, that's enough. How old is the young lady?"
The steward asked Catherine with a serious look. How old was she again? After a brief moment of thought, she replied.
"Twenty-two."
Ah. And just in case, she added, "For the record, she's not my daughter—she's my sister."
The steward looked flustered at her words. "We only broadcast for missing children... but we'll make an exception this time."
She'd requested the announcement to find Magi, but who knew it was only for kids? Maybe it was her VIP aura? The steward relented with a helpless shrug. Money really was the best.
Catherine gave thanks for her life of luxury—today, tomorrow, and for the rest of her days.
"Thanks. Good citizen of the Empire. The Empire's Mont Blanc is delicious. The Empire's Beaton Blue is beautiful. The Iterana Empire is a wonderful nation. Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
The steward bowed with a proud smile, as if he'd contributed to the nation's glory. Catherine headed to the deck for her reunion with Magi. No sooner had she taken a seat than the announcement blared, right on cue.
"We are looking for someone. Magi, please come to the deck cafeteria immediately to meet your sister. Blonde hair, amber eyes, tall stature, sensitive personality—Magi, please come right away..."
Hmm. Going well. It was phrased so anyone—Magi herself or her acquaintances—would recognize it. As long as nothing went wrong, they'd reunite soon.
How much time passed? Just as her ordered coffee arrived.
"Sis!"
From afar, a woman in a flashy rose-patterned dress came running breathlessly. Even with dark sunglasses hiding her eyes, her displeasure was obvious. The moment Magi reached her, she unleashed on Catherine.
"Making such an embarrassing announcement! Do you know how much my colleagues teased me?"
She plopped into the opposite chair with a thud, snatched Catherine's coffee, and gulped it down like fruit juice—black, no syrup.
"What's there to tease? It's all true."
"They said they knew it was me even without the name!"
Perfect—it had worked as intended. As Magi dabbed her mouth with a napkin, staring at the empty cup's bottom, she asked, "Sis, you okay? Didn't get hurt back there?"
"Perfectly fine. You?"
"Thanks to you, yeah. Though I'd have been fine without you too..."
Would she, though? The sacrifices dragged in hadn't survived. If Magi had been among them? Blood or not, Catherine hated even imagining it.
"So, what was that weird monster thing?"
Yaong wriggled out from her bag, poking his head out.
"Me."
Good lord. Magi gaped, yanking off her sunglasses with one hand.
"Good lord! Shocking. Shockingly cute."
"Hmph. Calling this body 'cute' is rude. If you have eyes, say 'majestic'."
Yaong waved a paw like a cotton swab sprouting claws, then retreated into the bag. Magi, still dazed from watching, cleared her throat, ahem, and slipped her sunglasses back on.
"Obvious, so obvious. Crystal clear. The Duke assigned you a guard, huh? A fearsome monster guard, no less."
"...Something like that."
Her real guard was elsewhere, but Yaong was more reliable anyway.
"Prepping a monster guard... Hmm. That Duke guy must be smitten with you. Or is this standard for rich playboys? They say Duke Chezare's wealth surpasses the imperial family's. Grand archmage, mega-tycoon—taming monsters is chump change..."
Magi rattled it off like a machine gun, then flailed her hands to cover Catherine's mouth. Catherine ignored her, ordering two more coffees.
"No, wait—not now. I'll hear the details later. Hearing it now might make me fall for him too... Anyway, I had something to ask."
"Shoot."
"You know Anne's wedding is exactly four days after the Lilith Ship schedule ends, right?"
"What? Wedding?"
Catherine blinked in surprise, and Magi scowled, scolding her. "I gave you her invitation back then. You didn't really skip reading it?"
Didn't read... Had she? No memory of checking the date meant she probably hadn't even opened it.
"Maybe tossed it half-asleep into the fireplace..."
"Ugh. Totally get it. Should've given you three extras."
Three or thirty, she wouldn't have opened Anne's invite anyway.
"So, you skipping the wedding?"
"Of course I'm going."
"Right? Knew it. Got plans to wreck it?"
Magi's eyes sparkled—or rather, gleamed visibly through her dark lenses. Catherine tsked at her sister's glee; it was a new look for her.
"Don't dump it on me—why not prep your own? You said you wouldn't let it slide."
"Obviously I did! Plans 1 through 10, all set. Just waiting for that bitch's wedding day."
Magi adjusted her sunglasses with smug confidence.
"Anyway... I'll leave it to you, sis. Anne needs a good thrashing to fix that rotten, bitchy personality."
The fresh coffee arrived, and Magi downed another cup instantly. Did she think it was water?
"Gotta run—busy. Enjoy the coffee. Why's it so bitter here anyway?"
Whatever her rush, she dusted off her dress, said goodbye, and stood.
"See ya."
Magi paused mid-stride, turning back. "Oops, forgot one more thing. Uh, sis? Why the... uncharacteristic look?"
Uncharacteristic? Oh. Right—I'm disguised. She'd forgotten, with Magi's casual familiarity.
The answer was simple: didn't want ties to her past connections. But no need to bare her soul, so Catherine deflected vaguely.
"Just a hobby."
Magi's face twisted in horror—understandably.
The return to Christopher was leisurely. She met Chezare once every afternoon, it seemed. Usually light meals or tea in his or her cabin, but stuffy days meant the deck cafeteria, savoring sea breezes. People's stares followed them openly then. Amid the furtive glances...
"Seventh Pope?"
"Henry I."
"Six letters."
...they casually played puzzles.
"Six letters, six letters..."
Catherine pondered gravely. Baptismal name with four letters, then? Which pope?
"Sigh. How am I supposed to know the pope from nine generations ago? Even the current one was already in office when I was born."
Chezare didn't flinch at her whining. "Johannes I. Don't claim ignorance—quite the remarkable man."
"And what good's knowing?"
"For puzzles."
With that crisp reply, he adjusted his slipping glasses.
"Next: Among the Iterana Empire's Seven Great Sights, the port city ranked #1 for 'Honeymoon Destination Couples Want Most' this year?"
Honeymoon #1. "...Beaton Blue?"
"Finally got one."
Chezare noted the answer on the newspaper with a weary look. Lucky guess. As his elegant script filled the grid, Catherine thought of Anne. Wedding a mine? Honeymoon would be lavish too.
Since Anne was on her mind, she asked Chezare her question. "Chezare. How long by mana car from Christopher to Orleans?"
He glanced at her curiously, meeting her eyes. "Orleans? Nothing to see in the sticks. Need a rest cure?"
She knew better than anyone it was countryside. After a pause, she called softly, "Hey, Chezare."
He nodded, inviting her words. Catherine proposed carefully.
"Wanna visit my hometown in four days?"